Silo construction.



C. H. SWAN.

SILO CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILE lAR-IBO. 1915.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. H. SWAN.

SILO CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED MAR so. 1915.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Wain Lemma n s. Multimedia CHARLES S NAN, 0F CASSOPOLIS, MICHIGAN.

Application filed March 30, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. SWAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cassopolis, in the county of Cass and State of l\'Iichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silo Construction, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to silos and particularly to a. silo construction including an improved form. of wall stave and a particular means for bracing such staves in their assembled position.

The most important consideration in thelhis has been accomplished by such means as are. illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this applicatibn.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which like characters oi relerence dcsignate similar parts, Figure 1 is an elevational view of a silo as constructed in accordance with the, means comprehended by this invention, Fig. 2 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken through a. number of staves in their assembled position to term 'the silo wall, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the joints whereby the staves are arranged .in vertical courses, Fig. 4: is a detail of the door piece adapted to be used in conjuncti m with a silo embodying the other features of this invention, F ig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the joint between stavcs of the same vert' -.al course, Fig. 6 is'a view of one stave complete, Fig. 7 is a. plan of the matter illustrated in Fig. 6, and F 8 a detail of what may be termed a turn buckle arrangement for adjusting the bracing means for these staves.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

SILO CONSTRUCTION.

Patented New. 255% Serial ll'o. 18,091.

As illustrated, th walls of the silo are adapted to be constructed from a. plurality of staves which. are arranged in vertical. courses to make tongue and groove joints and which contact with the stares of adja cent courses by means of rounded edges fitting in shallow grooves of a similar curvature.

Staves are indicated by the numerals 10 and are substantially rectangular although presenting outwardly the convex surtaces 11 which are portions oi the outer circumter ence of the silo which, as customary is constructed in a cylindrical shape. The staves 10 are arranged as has been stated in vertical courses and are each provided on corresponding extremities with a cut out portion 12 having laterally converging sides and opposite thereto with a similarly shaped and, central extension 13 adapted to fit within the cut out portion 12 of the stave immediately below and in the same course. Ribs 141 are formed upon the cut out end or each stave and follow the configuration of this extremity laterally across the stave and centrally of its width as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, while opposite extremities of each stave are formed with a central group 15 adapted to receive the rib 1 of the adjacent stave of the same course, T he lowermost and uppermost stares oi .ach qertical course however, because of the fact that they present a straight surface 16 to the foundation 17 or to suitable beams upon which. a roof 18 may be supported, dispensewith the lowermost extension 13 and have their bases alined in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

The staves of one course have their edges on one side formed in the rounded or con vex manner indicated by the" numeral 19, while their edges on the opposite side are concaved to a similar degree as denoted by the numeral 20 so that a series of circumferential joints are thus provided for main taining the cylindrical construction o'tthe silo as a whole. Since the joints in ad jacent vertical courses are bestnot horizontally alined the lowermost staves 21 of,

alternate courses are formed with a less the joints oi alternate courses only are horizontally alined and thejoints of adjacent vertieal courses are always oti'set. This amount ofofiset is preferably not very great since it is desired tobind the v ertical'courses when height than the remaining stavcs 22 so that arranged to form a cylindrical silo by means of a band or hoop like member 23 to horizontally encircle the staves after the manner of a barrel hoop but between these mentioned oiiset joint lines so that this band 23 will contact with a stave of each vertical "course at points immediately adjacent its jointure to the next adjacent stave of its course. This hoop member is preferably a metallic cable or the like and provided with the threaded extremities 24 which are designed to overlap after encircling the silo and to enter respective cylinders 25 of the adjustable grip member 26, locking means such as nuts 27 being threaded over the extremities 24L protruding from the chambers and contacting with the member 26 at opposite points which balance the strain and prevent the disengagement of the hoop ends there with as is illustrated to advantage in Fig. 8. It should be noted that an easy adjustment of these ends will be rendered by manipulationof the nuts 27 to tighten or loosen the bands 23 as may be desired. As a means of access to the silo there is provided a plurality of doors 28 which correspond with the horizontal stave courses determined by the arrangement of a plurality of the bands 23 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, these doors being mounted between channel guides 29 extending vertically the height of the silo and inclosing the adjacent edges of the staves 10 as shown in Fig. 4. Catch members 3O of any suitable design with which this invention need not be particularly coneerned are manually operable to be swung into the position shown in maintaining the doors 28 from outward displacement due to the pressure of the ensilage, or to be so moved out of engagement with the door as to permit ready access into the silo. Transverse channel irons 31 separate the superimposed doors and also form means for re ceiving the bands 23 to maintain them in their horizontal alinement, such cross brac- "ng irons being similarly secured to the upright irons 29 to maintain the constant spaced relation therebetween permitting of a removal of the doors 28 successively.

A particular important feature of this invention as relating to the construction of the staves 10 when the latter are to be used in conjunction with the retaining means or hoop members 23 has been illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein it will be noted that one edge of a stave tapers inwardly toward the center from both ends, with respect to the vertical so that the stave is narrower at the middle portion than at either oi the ends. The advantage of constructing staves in this manner is to relieve them of strain when in position in a silo and the hands 23 placed about them and drawn tightly. The pressure exerted by said bands will be allowed upon the ends of the staves, the centers of which being narrower than the ends Will be relieved of this extreme pressure and all danger of the staves cracking or breaking by liability of a slight excess of width at the centers thereof placing undue strain in a cross direction upon the staves overcome. The dilference in width between the centers and the ends of the staves is'slight, not more than of an inch, but this is suflicient to cause the staves when bound in place to hold firmly, relieve undue cross strain and remove all liability of cracking or breaking of the staves and add greater life to the structure.

The foregoing shows the extent of silo construction with which this invention is chiefly concerned such as the provision of a novel wall stave together with novel means of retaining the staves in their particular position while also comprehending the various adjuncts of these two main objects of invention. In practice, of course, a suitable lining of any preferred character is used to sheath the inner wall surface of the staves while the silage is deposited within a silo thus constructed and withdrawn in the obvious manner.

While in the foregoing however, there has thus been illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is desired to emphasize the fact that such minor changes in the matters of proportion and degree may be made in later adaptations of this device as shall not alter the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a silo construction, wall staves arranged in vertical courses, band members adapted to embrace the silo walls adjacent the joints between the ends of the staves of the several courses, and means for tightening said band members upon said walls, said staves being gradually reduced in width from their ends toward the centers thereof.

2. In a silo construction, wall staves arranged in vertical courses by interlocking joints, the joints of the. adjacent courses being relatively staggered, retaining hoops for embracing the walls of the silo between the staggered joints of the several courses, means simultaneously operable upon the ends of said hoops to tighten the same upon said wall, and means consisting in gradually lessening the width of each of said staves toward their centers to reduce pressure at said point and prevent cracking of the same.

In a silo construction, wall staves having slightly greater widths at their ends than at their centers adapted to be arranged in vertical courses. interlocking joints between the staves oi each course. respectively concave and convex vertical edges for each stave to preserve said courses in cylindrical alinement, band members adapted to encirwee-em;

e-Ee WILH Pferme't 9y courses ami ad.- jueeni the iutm'leciii'zw juinils to support Said stews, and menus 9111. 11: nneously c-peralfie mum the m-idwmfli' e 15rd band members te' tights. the same WE .eby the greatest (iml'i wresefeu is pleased upen the ends of the stews and Hm {"JEYE'Q, rei'xeved 0'? Ki 4-. Kn a silo H well. Ste-Nee there- 7 mgluhu 'kqmnainon Mi menus any? 01' less 2 1K121. nevus: than M7 eithea' e333.

.5. In a File :10;

0T eione'ni ion, W211i stm'ee there is ntizfl i :eeete. 111g: 11a r -e being um-wwer man. wt either end,

thereof practically eoncaving one longitudinal. edge only of the 2: nd the other slightly concev'e'd freni end he end, a grooved projection {in one end of said stave and a ribbed depression on the opposite end of corresponding shape to said projection.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' CHARLES H. SWAN. Witnesses E, J BROWN,

0. HARMeN. 

